While there is no "export" button displayed when processing multiple reports, you can do the next best thing...

Instead of choosing to print the reports, click the Display button. Once you do that, all of the reports that are being processed will display for you. Then you can click on the "Export" option at the top of each report and easily export it to Excel.

The Process Multiple Reports functionality within QuickBooks can definitely help streamline things for you and your team, especially at month-end or other times when a lot of reporting is needed out of QuickBooks.

I hate to say it, but it may very well be time for you to leave your old QuickBooks data file behind and start a new one for the new year.

There is no better time to create a new QuickBooks company file than the beginning of a new fiscal year!

In my experience over the last 15 years, sometimes it is far LESS hassle to forge ahead and create a new file. It can get really complicated trying to fix some of the problems outlined at the top of this article (and who needs to add complication to things?)

Remember, if you do create a new file, you'll still have the existing one available to you for lookup and historical purposes, so nothing is lost along the way.

I know how much you rely on QuickBooks to keep your business accounting updated.

Because of that, it is essential that you take time periodically to ensure that your QuickBooks company file/database is optimized for daily use.

This process is known as "verify data" in the world of QuickBooks - it literally goes through all the information in your file and verifies that it is in good shape. If problems are discovered, it will walk you through the steps to try and fix them.

I've put together this video to show you how the "verify data" process works in your QuickBooks - I hope you find it informative:

QuickBooks makes it a snap to take information you have recorded in an estimate/quote and move it to a sales order form.

Here's how to do it...

Locate and open the estimate that needs to be converted to a sales order (and congratulations on getting the order by the way!)

Look for the "Create" button at the top of the screen, and the little black triangle just to the right of it (screen shot below):

Choose Sales Order from the list (if you don't see all these options in your QuickBooks, it means either you are using an older version, or you are using QuickBooks Pro which does not support sales orders)

From there, you will see that the entire estimate/quote has been copied into the sales order form. Now, you will be able to add/modify/delete within the sales order as needed to take care of your customer. NOTE: The original estimate does not change if you make changes to the sales order form.

That's all there is to it!

So you know - there is no way to convert multiple estimates/quotes into sales orders at one time - they will need to be done on an individual basis.

What if the boss wants to see a listing of all the items on orders waiting to be shipped?

Can QuickBooks easily provide that information?

If you are using the Premier or Enterprise editions of QuickBooks, the answer is a resounding YES!

SALES ORDERS ARE THE WAY TO GO

The sales order functionality that is found in the Premier and Enterprise versions of QuickBooks takes care of this request with ease.

In fact, there is a built-in report called "Open Sales Orders by Item" that you can hand to your boss right now. Here is a sample of what the report looks like:

As you can see, this report provides a detailed breakdown of the items on sales orders that have not yet shipped.

Since QuickBooks Pro does not have sales order functionality, you're forced to use some alternate method like Excel to track this information. And that means extra data entry and extra work for you. No need for that.

Bar code scanning (requires additional annual subscription to QuickBooks Advanced Inventory) - certain restrictions apply on what type of scanners will work with this edition.

Updates to the interface - QuickBooks Enterprise 2013 presents a streamlined interface with a new left-hand toolbar on the home page, a move to the "ribbon" theme for transaction screens, bigger fonts, more white space, and several other changes to improve and streamline your experience with QuickBooks (interface updates also found in Pro and Premier 2013).